Control system



Marsh 2L 393% H. T. SEELEY CONTRL SYSTEM Filed Aug. 18, 1938 .M5L/P LAGE/IVG hfwvexfw tof: Harold T. Se@ ley, Qa;

5- ZMA/M H i Natom/wey.

.SKY MQQRNS Patented Mar. 21, 1939 comm. SYSTEM Harold Tl Seeley, Innsdowne, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 18, 1938, Serial No. 225,610

l5 Claims.

My invention relates to control systems and particularly to systems for controlling the application and removal of the excitation of a synchronous machine.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved control system for effecting the application of the excitation to the iield winding cf a synchronous machine at the proper time so that the machine can synchronize itsvmaximum load.

Another object o f my invention is to provide an improved arrangement of apparatus for effecting a predetermined electrical connection of a synchronous machine at a predetermined optimum point in the slip cycle of the machine` when it is operating subsynchronously as an induction machine. l

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved control system for controlling the excitation of a synchronous machine in response to the armature current pulsations produced by weakly exciting the field winding while the machine is operating at subsynchronous speeds.

This application is a continuation in part of my application, Serial No. 157,529, iiled August 5, 1937, and assigned to the same assignee as this application.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, Fig. l of which diagrammatically illustrates a synchronous motor control system embodying my invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 of which are explanatory diagrams, and the scope of my invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, I represents a synchronous motor having an armature winding which is arranged to be connected to la suitable polyphase supply circuit 2 by means of a switch 3 which may be of any suitable type, examples of which are well known in the art. While I have shown a manually controlled switch 3, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any suitable automatic means. may be employed for controlling the opening and closing of this switch. The motor I is also provided with a field winding 4 which is arranged to be connected directly to a suitable source of excitation 5 by means of a field switch 6. 'I'his switch 6, when open, is arranged to connect suitable impedance means, such as a discharge resistor l, across the terminals of the field winding ll. The switch 6 is provided with an operating winding 8 which. when energized, moves the switch B from the position in which it is shownl I2 represents the same phase current aty thesam (ci. 1v1-11s) to its other position in which the source of excitation 5 is connected directly to the field winding 4.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an improved arrangement of apparatus for control- 5 ling the closing of the eld switch 6 in -response to predetermined characteristics of the current pulsations produced in themotor armature circuitwvhile the motor is operating as a induction motor so that the field switch 6 is closed at a.` 10 predet rmined optimum point in the slip cycle after t. e motor has yaccelerated to a predetermined d-as an induction motor.

When an unexcited salient pole synchronous machine is operating subsynchronously -as an 15 induction machine, the magnitude and phase oi the armature current of the machine pulsate over predetermined ranges during each half cycle of slip. This `will be seen more clearly from' Fig. 2 whichis a polar diagram of the current in `20 one phase o the armature winding of the synchronous machine. In this Fig. 2, the vector I0 i represents the armature phase current at agi-ven slip when a predeterminedv angular relation existsy between the axes of the unexcited salient, field slip when the angular displacement of thexot poles has been increased another 4:5"` orJa of 90; and the vector I1 represents the same phase current at the same slip when the. angula-n displacement of the field poles has been increased another 45 or a total of 135 from the angle position which produce the current represented by the vector Io. The circle I0, I1, I2, I3, therefore represents the locus of the ends of the phase current vectors during one of the half cycles of slip of the unexcited synchronous machine While running at a given constant subsynchronous speed and each point on this circle represents the armature current at a definite point in this half cycle of slip. Since each field pole is unexcited, the same armature current pulsation is produced each time the field poles slip the distance of one pole pitch with respect to the armature poles. Therefore, the circle Io, I1, Iz, I3, also represents the locus of the ends of the phase current vectors during the other half cycle of each slip cycle of the machine while running at' a predetermined constant subsynchronous speed. Consequently each point on this circle represents the amature current at two deiinite points in the slip cycle at'this particular subsynchronous speed.

From this Fig. 2, it will be seen that during each halicycle of slip at a given subsynchronous speed the magnitude and also the phase angle oi' the amature current of an unexcited synchronous machine vary over predetermined ranges. These ranges, however, are diiIerent for each subsynchronous speed of the machine as will be seen more clearly from Fig. 3 which is a similar polar diagram of one of the armature phase currents except that several circles are shown which represent the loci oi.' the phase currentvectors oi the amature current at diiIerent subsynchronous speeds.

Since the same amature current pulsation is produced during each hal! cycle of slip when an unexcited synchronous machine is operating at a vgiven subsynchronous speed as an induction machine, any device which is arranged to respond at a predetermined point oi a particular amature current pulsation of such a machine may respond, therefore, at one or the other ot two dennite points in the slip cycle. However, ii the ileld whiehthearmaturecurrentvariesduringoneol halieycles oi slip di'ermaterlallyirolnthe and magnitude ranges over which the excited machine.

Therefore, in accordance with my invention, I weakly excite the neld winding oi the synchronous machine while it is operating subsynchronously as an induction machine and provide means which responds to a predetermined armature current pulsation characteristic which occurs during one o! the amature current pulsations produced at a predetermined subsynchronous speed and which does not occur during the other armature currentpulsation produced at the same predetermined subsynchronous speed or at any lower subsynchronous speed. In this way I am able to eiect the application of normal ileld excitation to the machine at the proper point in the slip cycle to produce the best synchronizing operation,`that is, when the angular position of the ileld poles and the rotating armature ux has a selected optimum value.

For applying the weak excitation to the lileld winding 4 in the particular embodiment ot my invention, shown in Fig, 1 of the drawing, I provide a switch I which, when closed, connects the eld winding 4 to the source oi excitation I with a relatively high impedance, such as a resistance II, in series. The switch III is provided with a closing coil l2, the circuit of which is controlled by the switch I so that the switch I0 can be closed to apply a weak excitation to the ileld winding only when the switch l is closed.

For eiiecting the closing of the tleld switch 6 l when the motor I reaches the speed at which it is desired to synchronize the motor, I employ, in the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, armature current responsive means of the type disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 153,953, filed July 16, 1937, and assigned to the same assignee as this application. 'Ihis armature current responsive means includes a relay I having a rotatable member Il and a wattmetric driving element I1 that includes a current winding Il energized in response to the current in one o! the polyphase conductors supplying current to the armature winding of the motor I and a voltage winding Il connected across one of the phases of the supply circuit 2.

The driving element I1 exerts on the movable member I6 in a direction to close contacts l! and current I when 0 is zero; that is, when I is Aat unity power factor. Therefore, since E I- O the wattmetric device I1 produces a torque proportional to l; an (fa-s) where Z represents the impedance ot the circuit through which the current I i'iows.

The rotatable member Il is also provided with another driving element 2l which has a voltage driving element 2| connected to one of the phases o! thesupply circuit 2 and which is designed so as to exert a torque on the `rotatable element Il in a direction to open the contacts 22 and close the contacts 23. As shown in the drawing, the voltage winding 2i is connected to the same phase ot the supply circuit 2 to which the voltage winding II oi the wattmetric device I'l is connected so that the torque exerted by the driving element 2U is proportional to KEF, where K represents a' constant. Therefore, the resultant torque exerted on the movable element I8 by the two driving elements I1 and 2li is proportional to By varying the relative phases of the currents in the windings I8 and I9 of the relay I 5 in any well known manner, as for example by changing the electrical constants of the circuit of one or both of these windings, the relay zero torque characteristic, which is substantially a straight line, can be made to have any desired slope and by varying the torque exerted by the driving element 20 the distance of this zero torque characteristic from the origin can be adjusted to any desired value.' I f, for example, the relay I5 is adjusted sothat it has a zero torque characteristic corresponding to the line MM in Figs. 2 and 3, vthe relay I5 maintains its contacts 23 open and its contacts 22 closed whenever the magnitude and phase angle of the armature current is such and with an armature current characteristic Ip,

it will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 that during a predetermined portion of one of the half cycles of slip at a predetermined subsynchronous speed the contacts 22 of relay I5 are open whereas duri ing the entire other half cycle of slip at the same predetermined speed the contacts 22 remain closed. From Fig. 3 it will be obvious that the phase and magnitude ranges over which the armature current varies are such that the relay I5 does not begin to open its contacts 22 during a portion of any armature current pulsation until the motor has accelerated to a speed near synchronous speed. Furthermore, it will be seen that the length of time the relay I5 maintains its contacts 22 lopen and its contacts 23 closed also depends upon the frequency of the current pulsations and increases materially as the speed of the machine approaches synchronous speed. For example, the length of time the contacts 22 remain open at 2% slip is at least 50% longer than at 3% slip. Therefore, as a means for determining the slip frequency of the machine at which to apply normal field excitation, 1 provide an adjustable timing device, shown as a time delayed drop out relay 24 with its energizing winding in series with the contacts 22, for measuring the time the contacts 22 remain open during any armature current pulsation. From Figs. 2 and 3 it will be apparent that relay 24 can complete its timing operation only when the speed of the synchronous machine has increased to such value that the armature current vector, during one of the armature current pulsations, remains to the left of the zero torque characteristic MM for a predetermined denite time. At this predetermined subsynchronous speed, the relay 24 drops out and opens its contacts 26 and 33 and closes its contacts 4I! at a denite point in one of the armature current pulsations, and thereforeat a denite point in the slip cycle. Since this particular point in the slip cycle may not be the optimum point at which to complete the closing circuit of the eld switch 6, I provide a second adjustable timing device shown as another time delayed drop out relay 25, which is energized when the contacts 26 of time relay 24 are closed and which, when deenergized fora predetermined time, completes an energizing circuit for the closing coil 8 of the field switch 6.

The operation of the arrangement shown in the drawing is as follows: When it is desired to start the motor I, the switch 3 is closed so that the full voltage of the supply circuit 2 is applied to the armature winding of the motor I to cause the motor to start from rest as an induction motor. The motor armature current that ows as soon as the switch 3 is closed is of such a magnitude and phase that it causes the wattmetric element I'I of relay l5 to produce suflicient torque to close the contacts 22 and open the contacts 23. The closing of the contacts 22 completes, through the contacts 30 of the switch 3, the contacts 3I of the switch I and the resistor 32, an energizing circuit for the Winding of relay 24. The relay 24 immediately moves to its energized position, and the closing of its contacts 33 completes a holding circuit for itself which is independent of the contacts 22 of the relay I5 and the contacts 3i of the switch I0. The closing of the contacts 26 of the relay 24 completes an energizing circuit for the relay 25 through the contacts 30 of the switch 3. By closing its contacts 28, the relay 25 completes through the contacts 30 of switch 3 an energizing circuit for the closing coil I2 of the switch I0 so that a weak excitation is applied to the field winding 4. This excitation is preferably of such a value as to produce the necessary difference in the armature current pulsations so that relay I5 can distinguish between them with-l out materially affecting the induction motor torque developed by the motor during the starting operation. The closing of the contacts 34 of the switch I0 completes a holding circuit for its closing coil eld switch Gand contacts 30 of the switch 3.

From Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that as long as the motor speed is below aA predetermined value, the magnitudes and phases of the armature current pulsations are such that the contacts 22 remain closed. When, however, the motor speed increases above this predetermined value, the magnitude and phase of the motor armature current is such that during a portion of the armature current pulsation produced during each slip cycle, the relay I5 maintains its contacts 22 open and its contacts 23 closed. However, the relay 24, the winding of which is short circuited when the contacts 23v are closed, does not move to its deenergized position until the motor speed has reached such a value that the frequency of the armature current pulsations is such that the duration of the portion of the current pulsation, during which the contacts 22 are open and contacts 23 are closed, is just long enough to allow the relay 24 to drop out and thereby open its contacts 33 in itsA own holding circuit. The opening of the contacts 2B of the relay 24 interrupts the energizing circuit for the time relay 25 so'that a predetermined time after the relay 24 moves to its deenergized position, the relay 25 completes an energizing circuit for the closing coil 8 of the field switch 6. This energizing circuit also includes the contacts 30 of the switch 3 and the contacts 34 of the switch I0. By closing its auxiliary contacts 35, the field switch 6 completes a locking circuit for its closing coil 8 through resister 39, contacts 40 of relay 24 and contacts 30 of switch 3. vBy closing its main contacts 36, the eld switch 6 connects the eld winding 4 directly to the source of -excitation 5 so that the field winding is supplied with suiicient direct current to cause the motor to pull into synchronism promptly. The opening of the contacts 3l of the field switch 6 disconnects the discharge resistor 'E from across the. terminals of the field winding 4. By opening its contacts 38, the eld switch 5 interrupts the holding circuit of the closing coil I2 of the switch I0 which moves to its normally open position after a predetermined time delay suiiiciently long to permit the motor I2 through contacts 38 of the synchronism, the power factor of the motor becomes sumciently lagging and the current becomes sufllclently great to cause the relay Il to open its contacts 23 and close its contacts 22 so as to complete the heretofore described energizing circuit for the relay 24. The relay 24 immediately moves to its energized position. By opening its contacts 40, the relay 24 interrupts the holding circuit of the closing coil l of the field switch i so that the iield winding 4 is immediately disconnected from the source of excitation i, and the discharge resistor 1 ls reconnected across the terminals of the field winding 4. 'I'he energization of the relay 24 then effects, in they manner heretofore described. the energization of the relay 25 and the switch i0 so that a weak excitation is applied to the motor eld winding 4. The motor continues to operate as an induction motor until it again reaches a speed suihciently high to cause the relay 24 to move to its deenergized position and eiiect, in the manner heretofore described, the closing of the iield switch 8 so that it will connect the eld winding 4 directly to the source of excitation 5.

WhileI have, in accordance with the patent statutes, shown and described my invention as applied to a particular system and as embodying various devices diagrammatically indicated, changes and modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent oi' the United States, is:

l. A control arrangement for a synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to an alternating current circuit including means for supplying a relatively weak excitation to said field winding, and means responsive to the current pulsations produced in said armature winding due to said weak excitation while said machine is operating at subsynchronous speeds for increasing the excitation applied to said field winding when the motor speed is above a predetermined value.

2. A control arrangement i'or a synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to an alternating current circuit including means for supplying a relatively weak excitation to said field winding, and means responsive to the irequency of the current pulsations produced in said armature winding due to said weak excitation while said machine is operating at subsynchro nous speeds for increasing the excitation applied to said i'leld winding when the motor speed is above a predetermined value.

3. A control system for a synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to an alternating current circuit including means for supplying a relatively weak excitation to said field winding, and means responsive to the frequency of the current pulsations produced in said armature winding due to said weak excitation while said machine is operating at subsynchronous speeds forincreasing the excitation applied to said field winding when the motor speed is above a predetermined value and a predetermined relation exists between the positions of the magnetic poles produced by the amature iiux and the magnetic poles produced by the weak excitation in the field winding.

4. A control system fora synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to an alternating current circuit including a timing device, means dependent upon the pulsations of the current in said armature winding for eifecting the operation of said timing device at an instant when a predetermined angular relation exists between the motor iield poles and the rotating armature flux, and other timing means controlled by said first mentioned timing means for eifecting the application of excitation to said field winding a predetermined time after said iirst mentioned timing means has been continuousiy operated for a predetermined time interval.

5. A control system for a synchronous machine having an larmature winding connected -to a source of alternating current including means for supplying a relatively weak excitation to said field winding, and means controlled by the current puisations produced in said armature winding due to said weak excitation while said machine is operating at subsynchronous speeds for increasing the excitation supplied to said field winding when the angular relation between the field poles and the rotating armature flux has a selected optimum value.

6. In combination with a synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to a source of alternating current, means for supplying a relatively weak excitation to said iield winding and means dependent upon the frequency and magnitude of the armature current pulsations while said machine isoperating at subsynchronous speeds for effec-ting a change in the energization of one of said motor windings when the motor speed is above a predetermined value and a predetermined angular relation exists between the motor ileld poles and the rotating armature flux.

7. In combination with a synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to a source of alternating current, means for supplying a relatively Weak excitation to said field winding, a timing device, means dependent upon the armature current pulsations while said machine is operating at subsynchronous speeds for initiating -the operation of said timing device at a predetermined angular relation between the motor iield poles and the rotating armature flux when the motor speed has increased to a predetermined value, and means responsive to the operation of said timing device for effecting a change in the connections of one of said motor windings to change the current flowing therein.

8. In combination with a synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to a source of alternating current, means for supplying a relatively weak excitation Ito said field Winding, a timing device, means dependent upon vthe armature current pulsations while said machine is operating at subsynchronous speeds for initiating the operation of said timing device at a predetermined angular relation between the motor field poles and the rotating armature flux when the motor speed has increased to a predetermined value, and means responsive to the operation of said timing device for increasing the excitation of said field winding.

9. A control arrangement for a synchronous machine having an armature Winding connected to a source of alternating current, including means for supplying a relatively weak excitation to said field winding, means dependent upon the pulsations produced in a predetermined function of 4the product ofthe motor armature current and the supply circuit voltage when the motor is operating at a subsynchronous speed for increasing the excitation supplied to said field winding when -means for supplying a relatively weak excitation to said eld winding, a timing device, means dependent on a predetermined function of the product of the motor armature current and the supply circuit voltage for effecting the operation of said timing device at an instant when a predetermined angular relation exists between the motor eld poles and the rotating armature flux, and

timing means responsive to the operation of said timing device for effecting an increase'in the excitation of said iield winding.

11. In combination with a synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to an alternating current circuit, means for producing in said armature winding when said motor is operating at subsynchronous speeds a current change of one character when a predetermined portion of the motor iield structure is passing poles of one polarity of the armature rotating eld and a current change of a different' character when said predetermined portion of the motor eld structure is passing poles of the opposite polarity of the armature rotating field, and means dependent upon said diierences in said armature current changes for controlling the excitation of said machine.

12. In combination with a synchronous machine having an armature winding connected to an alternating current circuit, means for producing in said armature winding when said motor is operating at subsynchronous speeds a current change of one character when a predetermined portion of the motor field structure is passing poles ofy one polarity of the armature rotating iield and a current change of a dierent character when said predetermined portion of the motor iield structure is passing poles of the opposite polarity of the armature rotating field, and means dependent upon said differences in said armature current changes for applying normal excitation tosaid machine when a selected op- 'timum angular relation exists between the iield structure and the rotating armature flux.

13. A control arrangement for establishing a predetermined electrical connection of a synchronous machine at a predetermined optimum point in the slip cycle when the machine reaches a predetermined speed as an induction machine including timing means having an adjustable definite time of operation, means responsive to a predetermined characteristic of the pulsations produced in the armature current when the machine is operating as an induction machine for initiating the timing operation of said timing means at a predetermined definite point in the slip cycle when theslip of the machine decreases to a predetermined value, and means responsive to said .timing means completing'its denite timing operation for establishing the predetermined electrical connection of said machine.

14. A control arrangement for establishing a predetermined electrical connection of a synchronous machine at a predetermined optimum point in the slip cycle when the machine reaches a predetermined speed as an induction motor including two timing means respectively having adjustable denite timing operations, means responsive to a predetermined characteristic of the pulsations produced in the armature current when the machine is operating as aninduction machine for initiating the timing operation of one of said timing means and for maintaining said one of said timing means in operation as long as said predetermined armature current characteristic exists, means responsive to said one of said timing means completing its denite timing operation for initiating the timing' operation of the other timing means, and means responsive to said other timing means completing its definite timing operation for establishing said predetermined electrical connection of said machine.

15. An arrangement for connecting a source of excitation to the eld winding of a synchronous machine at a predetermined optimum point in the slip cycle when the machine reaches a predetermined speed as a induction motor including a time relay having a definite operating time, means for effecting the timing operation of said time relay only during that portion of a pulsation'produced in the armature current when the machine is operatingA as an induction machine when a predetermined characteristic of the armature current exists, a-second time relay having a definite operating time, means responsive to said first mentioned time relay completing its timing operation for initiating the operation of the said second time relay, and means responsive to said second time relay completing its timing operau tion for effecting the connection of the source of excitation to the field winding of said machine.

HAROLD T. SEELEY. 

